Weekend arrests keep officers busy

WILLIAMSON - The Mingo County Magistrate Clerk’s office provided copies of numerous arrests that occurred over the weekend, with defendants being taken into custody on a variety of charges.

Barry McClanahan, 20, of Matewan, was placed under arrest by Matewan Police Chief P.A. Mounts and Mingo County Sheriff’s Department (MCSD) Deputy B. Moore on charges of assault and destruction of property.

The criminal complaint states that the defendant grabbed a cup being held by Cornelia Vines and slung it against the wall, and then proceeded to kick and destroy a glass-top coffee table before he began punching the wall. McClanahan allegedly threatened to kill everyone inside the residence and placed the female and her niece in fear for their lives.

McClanahan was arraigned before Mingo County Chief Magistrate Dallas Toler and was released from custody on a $500 personal recognizance bond.

Jonathan Wesley Smith, 52, of Delbarton, was arrested by MCSD Sgt. J. Muncy, and Deputies R. Fitch and B. Moore on a single count of domestic assault and battery.

Smith reportedly struck his wife, Bobbi Jean Smith, in the face with a closed fist, then choked her and kicked her in the stomach. The defendant remains in the custody of the Southwestern Regional Jail on a $500 bond. He was arraigned by Chief Magistrate Toler.

Tracy James Evans, 22, of Delbarton, was placed under arrest by MCSD Deputy L. Thomas on charges of driving on a suspended license for DUI (conviction date of 4-18-13) and invalid or expired MVI. The defendant was arraigned before Chief Magistrate Toler and was remanded to the custody of the Southwestern Regional Jail on a $2,100 bond.

Charles Edward Bryant, 56, of Dingess, was taken into custody by MCSD Cpl. P. Muncy and Deputy L. Thomas on one count each of domestic assault and brandishing a deadly weapon.

According to the officers, they were dispatched to a Dingess residence on a domestic disturbance call. Upon arrival they took a statement from Brenda Bryant, the step-sister of the accused, who relayed that the defendant did unlawfully brandish a knife, threatening to do her bodily harm. She further stated that Bryant threw the knife at her, narrowly missing making contact with her arm.

Bryant was arraigned before Chief Magistrate Toler and was transported to jail on a $2,000 bond.

Julian Tucker, 25, of Matewan, was arrested on charges of driving on a suspended or revoked license for reasons of DUI, following a traffic stop by Matewan Police Chief P.A. Mounts and Patrolman Z. Lester for reasons of driving 53 m.p.h. in a 35 m.p.h. zone.

Upon making contact with the driver and running a status check through the West Virginia DMV, information was provided to the officers of the suspended or revoked license for DUI. Tucker was charged and was then arraigned by Chief Toler who set his bond at $1,000.

The defendants are scheduled to appear in Magistrate Court in the near future for their preliminary hearings on the above listed charges.